Photobiomodulation for the management of inferior alveolar nerve paresthesia after implant surgery: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Photobiomodulation (PBM) has shown promise for managing nerve paraesthesia. This trial assessed the efficacy of an 810-nm diode laser on deep-mechanical, superficial-mechanical and thermal sensitivity for inferior alveolar nerve paresthesia after implant surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-four adults with recent implant-related paraesthesia were randomly assigned, in a parallel design, to an intervention or control group; both groups received routine vitamin-B supplementation. The intervention group underwent eight diode-laser sessions (200 mW power and 6 J/cm2 energy density) over four weeks, directed at peri-implant mucosa and adjacent cheek skin. The control group attended identical sessions with an inactive laser. Blinded examiners recorded visual-analogue-scale (VAS) scores for the Clamp (deep mechanical), Swab (light mechanical) and Ice (thermal) tests at baseline and at two and four weeks after the final session. Data were analysed with the Shapiro-Wilk test, independent-samples t-test and Friedman test (α=0.05). RESULTS: All twenty-four randomised participants (mean age 51±7 years) completed follow-up. Baseline VAS scores did not differ between groups (p>0.44). Although both groups improved over time, the VAS scores for paresthesia reductions in the PBM group were significantly greater than those in the control group at both follow-ups for all three tests (all p<0.001). No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Eight sessions of 810-nm PBM produced faster and more pronounced sensory recovery than sham treatment in patients with implant-related paraesthesia.